Electromagnet.



PATENTED JULY 1'7, 1906 W. W. BROWN. ELEGTROMAGNET.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 9, 1905.

Inventor: flak M Walter W Brow/r M (Q g 4 7/4 gwmwa 14m and State of umrnn STATES PATENT Orrron. WALTER W; BROWN, OF SCHENEOTADY, NEW Y RK, ASSIGNOR TO GEN- ERAL ELEOTEIO ooMrANY, A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

ELECTROMAGN-ET.

Specification of Letters Patent. A pli ti fil d January 9, 1905. Serial No. 240.198-

No. 826,307. Patented July 17,1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER W. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady New York, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Electromagnets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electromagnets of the type-disclosed in a former patent, No. 765,550, issued to me July 19, 1904; and it consists of andmprovement in the arrangement described therein. f

In my former patent I described an electromagnet ada ted 'for use in block-signal systems for holtling' the signal at clear posi tion. In order to' economize current, the magnet is provided withia latch for holding the o crating mechanism'in position when raised so as to takethe weight from the core 0f the magnet, and with a switch arranged to decrease the current flowing through the ,gnaghet to an amount merely sufiicient to t. support the core alone. When the magnet isavholly dener ized, the core drops and rips the latch, aliwing theoperating mechanism-andsignal tofgo to fdanger. This arrangementbbviously results in a material .5 saving of current, since the full current is re- 39- quired only while the signal is being moved to clear position. The moving parts oi the operating mechanism are preferablyprovided with a retarding device in order to pre vent too sudden movements and jars of the o crating mechanism. I have now found -t at if the switch controlling the circuit of the electromagnet is operated directly by the operatingmechanism, as shown in myformer patent, it results that a slow break is obtained when the switch opens, which results in more or less; arcing. This'not only produces deterioration of the contacts, but also, if the arc is drawn out to any appreciable length before breaking, the current in 'tromagnet of the type disclosed in my former the magnetavinding is decreased gradually, atent. Fig. 2'is a diagram of connections. whereas it is desirable that it should be deig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a relay creased suddenly at the instant the latch is adapted to control the circuit of the electro in proper position for engagement. With a magnet. gradual decrease of current-flow through the r The 0 crating -electromagnet shown in 50 magnet it is difiicult to so adjust the magnet Fig. 1 is lly described in my former patent, winding that the operating mechanism is reabove referred to, but in order to present my leased at the instant that the latch is in resent invention clearly will be described liera A represents the operatmg-magnet,

proper position for engagement. If the decrease of current does not begin until the which is shown as a solenoi provided with latch is in proper position, it Wlll be carried an appreciable distance beyond its proper position before the operating mechanism is released by the magnet. nus not only is unnecessary distance, but also the mechanism may acquire suflicient momentum in dropping back to itsproper position to trip the latch and prevent its engagement. On the other hand, if the gradual decrease of cur proper position the magnet must be m de arge enough to insure the continuance of the movement on the decreased current until the proper position is reached. means for obtaining a quick break at the exact instant when the .latch has proper engagement-the above considerations are eliminated and the efficiency and reliability of operation are increased. 1

positive movement of the switch inthe mag net-circuit, regardless of the rate of movement of the operating mechanism.

/ More specifically considered, my invention the moving arts of the magnet to control the circuit of a relay, which in turn controls the circuit of the operating-magnet.

In one aspect my invention is not limited to the particular construction or-mechanism described in my former patent, but consists, broadly, in the combination of a movable member, an. electromagnet for moving the member,a switch arranged .to be 0' erated when the member is moved, and a re ay controlled by the switch adapted to decrease'the current through the magnet.

' My invention will best be understood by relfgrplnce to the accompanying drawings, in w c rent-is begun before the latch has reached its By providing reached the My present invention therefore consists in providing means for obtaining a quick and Figure 1 shows a side elevation of an elecpower wasted in moving the mechanism an consists in arrangingtheswitch operated by i ed thereto, as well as the n'soveblc "and the core B, lever done. other a i verticolly-rnovshle core 15. (ore B has at itslower end s. slot 7), which is loosely yet nosi tively engaged by the pin 6, carried by the lever C, which is pivoted at c. The outer end of lever (l is stteched to the operating rod. K of the some bore-signal or other dcvicc (not shown) W ich is to, be opcrsted-by the solenoid A. D is s dosh-pot adopted to retard the movement of lever C and rod l? under the influence of core 3. The rnorsble member of dash-pot l), which is sl' own he outer member attached to lever C, carries o in; d, which encircles :1 vertical rod ll). 'file 1'0 '15 carries washers e and. 0., adopted to no engaged, respectively, upon. the upward and downward movements of the n ehlc morn" ber of dash-pot D. l? is s brid l of conducting materiel, such carried at the upper end of vert vertical rod l Bridging member F when forced down engages the contoc spring which bears againstblock f carried by red l3 and hi. rod E in any given position. G i catch pivoted at g on. lever C and s engage the pin g when lever C is position, as shown in Fig. 1. o acting to hold dog G in engzwenient with the pin g. As long as dog G is m. engsg with pin g it serves to support the of lever C and the signal niechsnisin connectdash-pot D, and thereby o ie'vos ti of any downward strain ti The opcrstion of the electro s follows: It the aCtllittlIU-Qdllf the inechsnisin are at tneir lowest ,oosition, the bridging member F will be idengegement with tie contact f. Now i'fniognet A. energized it will draw up its'coro B, moving lever 0, rod K, and desh biu; D upward,- until the lug (2, carried by the dosh-pot l), engages the collar 0 and. raises the bridging .rnember F out of engagement with the con- .toctf. This movement of member i sets,

as will be hereinafter explained, to reduce the current flowing through the solenoid A to an ernount insuificientto support the Weight of lever C and the operating mechanism connected thereto. Lever C and operstingrod K consequently fell beck a small amount sufficient to bring dog G into engagement with the pin 9, as shown in Fig. 1. Pin g then takes the weight of lever C and the o crating mechanism connected thereto whi e the current flowing through coil n is still suificient to hold up the weight of core B clone. Lever C and core B are consequently main tcined in the position shown, While spring holds bridging member F out of engagement with contacts ff. This condition of efi'sirs continues as long as solenoid A is ener ized. When the circuit of the solenoid is completely broken, core B is allowed to fell, end in falling g it from "11 pin g. Love if consequently rolls, silowingthe signal to goto dsng cr. Just-before reaching slowest posi tion d, cerriedby dash-pot D, engages the washer or collar e on the shaft E and pulls down bridging member F into engngeinent with ccntect f. All the ports are on in the position in which they were ased to be starting, and the cycleof open stions omplete.

lost oi causing the bridging member F to not directly to reduce the current in the sting msgnet i "provide e relay con 3- by the bridging member l end com in turn. a contest arranged produce d change in the circuit of the oper- -1msgnet. his relsy may be of any iown construcluon. As shown in Fig.

consists oi" e magnet-coil M, provided 13th a suitable cesing m end vertically- "hle core N, carrying an insulated bridg- The core N is she r-xhich it maintains as long as iced. W hen the coil ised, the o (7 I 1119; member U to come into engagement with the centric s 0 o.

nit connections ere shown in Fig. ch ll. represents s. treclerelsy, with 11 connected to the rails it of the relay holds its armature it up in the position shown and releases its armature when do energized. L represents a, seinsphoroblade, which is connected to the operating-rod K end which held in clear position, as shown, when the rod K is held in its raised position by the lii'tingmegnet A. I represents a line- Wire or other suitable source of current. represents a resistance adopted to be inserted in the circuit with All the ports are shown in the positions they occupy when: the block is clear. 1%. circuit exists from. the line -wire I through the resista n cc J throught he relay-coil. M, through the operotingcoil A, through relsy-ernie-- tu re i'z to the continuous rail it. if s trein comes on the block, short-circuiting the trackrelsy H, i-rwill ellow its armature h to fell,

opening the circuit which has just been traced. Relay M and o ereting coil Jr Wlll conse uently both be cenergized. Relay M wil allow its bridging member 0 to drop into engagement with its contacts 0 0, end the magnet will allow the signal-blade L to go to danger position, drawing down bridging member F into engagement with the contsctsff. Conser uentlywhen the train passes off the lolocl; one armature h is drawn. up by the trcclcrelsy a. circuit will he closed from line-wire I, through bridging member O and contacts 0 0, through bridging member F and contacts ff, through magnet A, andwn in its tells, allowing bridgi l nen the bloclr is clear, the trash the operating-magnet- A.

states ing signal-blade L to clear position. When this position is reached, bridging member F leaves the contacts f f, thereby removing a short circuit from the terminals of relaywinding- M. Relay winding M is consequently energized and draws up the bridging member 0 with a quick movement, thereby removing a short circuit from the terminals of the resistance J. The resistance J is thus thrown in series with the magnet A, and the current through magnet A is thereby reduced to an amount just sutficient to hold up its .core, as has been heretofore explained.

' Since the bridging member F removes a short circuit only from the terminals of relay M, which may have a winding of very low resistance, instead of from the terminalsof the high resistance-J, as in my former patent, practically no arcing occurs at the opening of bridging member. I. Bridging member 0 is raised. with a quick motion when relay M is energized, and consequently acts as a quickbreak switch. Thus not only is all arcing eliminated, but a positive action is obtained at the exact instant when the catch is engaged with the operating-rod of the signal.

Thecircuit connections may be varied, and

- other methods of reducing the current-flow through the lifting-magnet may be employed instead of simply inserting a resistance in series with the magnet-winding.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. In cqmbination with an electromagnet, a movable member ada ted to be raised thereby, means for retar 'ng the movement of said member, a quick-break switch controlled by the movement of said member and adapted to decrease the current through said magnet when said member is raised, means for restraining said member when said current is decreased, and means for releasing saiddmember when said magnet is deenerg'ize In combination, a movable member tending to return to a given. position, an electromagnet adapted to retract said member, means for retarding the movement of said member, a quick-break switch controlled by the movement ofsaid member and adapted to decrease the current throu 'h said magnet when said member is retracts a catch adapted to restrain'said member when retracted, and means for tripping said catch when said magnet is deenergized.

3. In combination, a movable member tending to return to a given position, an electromagnet adapted to retract'said member, means for retarding the movement of said member, a switch mechanically connected to said member and arranged to be operated It consequently lifts rod O, movwhen said member is retracted, a relay controlled by said switch and adapted to de crease the current through said magnet, a catch for restraining said member when'said current is decreased, and means for tripping said catch when said magnet is denergizcd.

4. In combination with an electromagnet, a movable member adapted to be raised thereby, means for retarding the movement of said member, a resistance in series with said magnet, a relay adapted when deenergized to short-circuit said resistance, aswitch mechanically connected to said member and arranged to be opened when said member is raised, said switch being arranged when closed to short-circuit said relay, a catch for restraining said member when raised, and means for tripping said catch when said magnet is deenergized,

5. combination with an electromagnet, a movable member adapted to be raised thereby, a catch for restraining said member when raised, a quick-break switch controlled by the movement of said member and adapted to decrease the current in said magnet at the instant when said member is engaged by said catch, and means for tripping said catch when said magnet is wholly deenergized.

6. In combination, a solenoid, a core therefor, a member adapted'to-be moved by said. core, a catch adapted to restrain said member when said core is drawn into said solenoid, and a quick-break switch controlled by the movement of said member and adapted to decrease the current through said solenoid at the instant said member is engaged by said catch, said catch being arranged to be tripped by said core when said core is released by said solenoid. r

7. In combination, a solenoid, a core therefor, a member 'adapted to be moved by said core, a catch adapted to rcstrainsaid member when said core is drawn into said solenoid, a switch mechanically connected to said member, and arranged to open at the instant said member is engaged by said catch, and a relay controlled by said switch and adapted to decrease the current through said solenoid, said catch being arranged to be tripped by said core when said core is released by said solenoid.

8. In combination, a movable member, an

electromagnet adapted to move said member, a switch arranged to beopera-ted when said member is m oved, and a relay controlled by said switch and adapted to decrease the current through said magnet.

9. In combination, a movable member, an

electromagnet adapted to move said memaround said resistance.

10. In combination, a movable member, an electromsgnet adapted to move said member, a switch arranged to be operated when said member is moved, and a relay controlled by said switch adapted when it is operated to include it resistance in circuit With-the Winding of the electromegnet.

11. In combination, a movable member, an electromagnet adapted to move said member, a switch arranged to be operated When said member is moved, and a relay controlled by said switch adapted when it is 0perated to increase the resistance of the circuit in Which the electromagnetWinding is included.

1.2. In combination, a movable member tending to return to a given position, an elec tromagnet adapted to move said member, a switch mechanically connected to said memher and arranged to be operated when said member is moved, and a relay controlled by said switch and adapted to decrease the current through said magnet.

13. In combination, a movable member sensor trolled by said switch and adapted to decrease the current through said magnet.

14. In combination with an electromagnet,

a movable member ada ted to be raised thereby, means for retar ing the movement of said member, a resistance in series With' said magnet, a relay ads ted when 'den'er- I gized to short-circuit sai resistance, and a switch controlling said rela and mechanic ally connected to said mem er and arranged to be opened when said member is raised.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of January, 1905 WALTER W. BROWN, 

